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Trial of Variable Dialysate Bicarbonate

Randomized, Controlled, Double-blind Trial of Lower Versus Higher Dialysate Bicarbonate in Hospitalized Maintenance Hemodialysis Patients

Status
Recruiting
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT05814146
Enrollment
141
Registered
2023-04-14
Start date
2023-08-24
Completion date
2026-10-01
Last updated
2025-11-24

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Adverse Symptoms, Electrolyte Changes, Intradialytic Hypotension, Peri-dialytic Cardiac Rhythms, pH Changes

Brief summary

QTc prolongation and premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) are common in hemodialysis (HD) patients and are associated with sudden cardiac death. It is known that higher dialysate bicarbonate is associated with more QTc prolongation during HD sessions. This study aims to assess the effects of lower (30 mEq/L) versus higher (35 mEq/L) dialysate bicarbonate in adult maintenance HD patients admitted to the hospital. The investigators will randomly assign subjects to lower versus higher dialysate bicarbonate concentrations during their hospital stay for up to a maximum of six HD sessions or until their hospital discharge.

Interventions

DRUGDialysate bicarbonate concentration

Assess how a lower dialysate bicarbonate affects: * QTc duration during and between hemodialysis sessions * PVC burden during and between hemodialysis sessions * Clinically significant arrhythmia during and between hemodialysis sessions * Intradialytic hypotension * Adverse symptoms during hemodialysis sessions

DEVICEDialysate bicarbonate concentration - telemetry monitoring

Patients will be monitored with telemetry on both arms of the trial.

Sponsors

Brigham and Women's Hospital
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
QUADRUPLE (Subject, Caregiver, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 120 Years
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* prevalent end-stage renal disease, on maintenance HD \> 90 days * age ≥ 18 years old * thrice weekly HD

Exclusion criteria

* hemoglobin \< 8.0 g/dL * pregnancy * any physical, mental or medical condition which limited the ability to provide written informed consent

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
QTc prolongationDuring hemodialysis procedure (during dialysate administration)QTc prolongation, calculated as post-HD (just as HD finishing, generally 4 hours from start of HD session) minus pre-HD QTc duration, will be obtained via Holter monitoring.

Other

MeasureTime frameDescription
Clinically significant arrhythmiaClinically significant arrhythmia will be assessed during hemodialysis sessions and in the subsequent inter-hemodialysis period (until the subsequent hemodialysis session, up to 68 hours).As described in the Monitoring in Dialysis (MiD) study, clinically significant arrhythmia is defined as: sustained ventricular tachycardia, bradycardia, asystole and symptomatic arrhythmias.
Intradialytic hypotensionBlood pressures will be measured every 15 minutes during HD sessions.Intradialytic hypotension will be defined as systolic blood pressure \<90 during hemodialysis. The investigators will also conduct sensitivity analyses using alternative definitions of intradialytic hypotension (e.g. nadir intra-hemodialysis systolic blood pressure \<90mmHg if pre-hemodialysis systolic blood pressure is \<160mmHg or nadir intra-hemodialysis systolic blood pressure \<100mmHg if pre-hemodialysis systolic blood pressure is ≥160mmHg). Additionally, the investigators will examine the overall mean decline in systolic blood pressure during hemodialysis as a continuous outcome (intra-hemodialysis systolic blood pressure decline=pre-hemodialysis systolic blood pressure minus nadir systolic blood pressure during hemodialysis).
ElectrolytesObtained pre- and post-hemodialysis study sessions (just as hemodialysis finishing, generally 4 hours from start of hemodialysis session).Samples are collected from the hemodialysis circuit (no extra blood sticks) for freezing for comprehensive metabolic panels.
PVC frequencyPVCs/hour will be recorded during HD sessions and for ~44-68 hours from the end of the hemodialysis session until the subsequent hemodialysis session.Holter monitors will be used to assess PVC frequency during HD sessions and in the subsequent inter-HD period. The investigators will also assess PVC coupling interval variability in these time intervals.
Ionized calcium levelObtained pre- and post-hemodialysis study sessions (just as hemodialysis finishing, generally 4 hours from start of hemodialysis session).Samples are collected from the hemodialysis circuit (no extra blood sticks) for immediate evaluation of ionized calcium level.
Adverse symptomsQuestionnaires will be administered during the last 10 minutes of hemodialysis sessions.The investigators will administer the modified Edmonton Symptom Assessment System (mESAS). The mESAS measures patient-reported severity of pain, activity, nausea, depression, anxiety, drowsiness, appetite, well-being, shortness of breath and pruritus using a 0-10 score (anchored by No at 0 and Severe at 10). A validated Spanish version is available and a translator will help to administer the questionnaire as well as with all communication with patients in any language other than English.
pHObtained pre- and post-hemodialysis study sessions (just as hemodialysis finishing, generally 4 hours from start of hemodialysis session).Samples are collected from the hemodialysis circuit (no extra blood sticks) for immediate blood gas analysis.

Countries

United States

Contacts

Primary ContactKatherine S Ravi, MD, MPH
ksravi@bwh.harvard.edu(617) 732-6383

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026